Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Awareness Day 2026
Dhaka, 20 May 2026 — KMC Awareness Day was observed with active participation from healthcare professionals, students, and community members to promote the benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care for preterm and low-birth-weight newborns.
Marking the occasion, the Department of Neonatology of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and the Bangladesh Neonatal Forum (BNF) jointly organized a rally and a scientific seminar on the university premises on 20 May 2026. The event was supported by the Projahnmo Research Foundation (PRF).
Professor Dr. F. M. Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, BMU, graced the event as the Chief Guest. The occasion brought together BMU officials, faculty members, doctors, BNF officials, researchers, and other key stakeholders working for newborn health. The session was moderated by Professor Dr. M. A. Mannan, Chairman of the Department of Neonatology, BMU.
Speakers shared insights on newborn health, WHO recommendations, the importance of KMC and the need to expand this life-saving practice, and WHO coordinated implementation research on immediate KMC (iKMC-IR). PRF & icddr,b implement the iKMC-IR site in Bangladesh, and BMU is providing technical support for the study.
The participants renewed their commitment to accepting, endorsing, and promoting KMC, and to ensuring that the mother-baby dyad remains together after birth, removing all barriers to this practice.
Globally, 1 in 10 babies is born too soon, before 37 weeks of gestation. Many more are low birth weight. Complications related to premature birth remain one of the leading causes of newborn deaths. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a simple method of keeping babies close through skin-to-skin contact, can save lives, especially when started immediately after birth, even if the baby is sick and admitted. Yet, the practice of KMC remains very low.
To raise awareness of this life-saving care, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Awareness Day is observed every year on 15 May. This year, the theme ‘Stillness is Strength’ reminds us of the moment of calm when babies find healing, stability, and resilience.